Pipe construction



, June-24, 1941- c. w. CHRISTAOPHE'RQEN 2,246,573

PIPE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1958 ATTORN EY Patented June 24, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in smoking pipes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved pipe construction for preventing the saliva from entering the tobacco bowl, and for preventing the oils, tars, ashes and other undesirable ingredients and by-products of the burning tobacco from reaching the mouthpiece.

Another object is to provide a new and improved pipe construction, which is highly sanitary, and which will afford a cool, dry, clean, refreshing smoke.

Another object is to provide a new and improved pipe construction, in which the tobacco in the bowl is supported in such a way above the passageway in the pipe stem, as to prevent tobacco from said bowl from being lodged in said passageway, and consequently clogging said passageway.

Another object is to provide a new and improved type of pipe construction, affording an effective and efficient draft through the pipe.

Another'object is to provide a new and improved pipe construction, having a grate and filtering trap attachment, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which can be easily installed in or removed from the pipe without injury to the pipe.

Another object is to provide a smoking pipe, which lends itself to easy, expeditious and effective cleaning.

Another object is to provide a smoking pipe, which is constructed to retain a comparatively short absorbent element, cut from or made like a pipe cleaner of the conventional type.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a pipe embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the pipe, shown in conjunction with one form of absorbent member,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective on an enlarged scale of a grate and filtering trap attachment, embodying some features of the present invention,

Fig. 5 is a perspective on an enlarged scale of an absorbent retainer plug, embodying some features of the present invention,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryvertical sectionon an enlarged scale of a portion of the pipe, and shows said pipe in the process of being cleaned, and

Fig, 7 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of another form of absorbent member used in connection with the pipe.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the pipe is provided with a bowl II], a stem ll integral therewith, and a mouth piece l2 detachedly connected to said stem. The bowl ID has a cavity or chamber [3 for receiving the tobacco, and a bottom wall M of substantial thickness, provided with a hole l5 coaxial with said chamber, and communicating with the substantially axial bore l6 of the stem. The upper section I! of this hole I5 is substantially smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the tobacco chamber l3, and forms a socket for a grate and filtering trap unit l8.

The' grate unit l8 includes a pair of cupshaped members 20 and 2|, telescopically interfitted in reverse relationship to form a cavity 22 therebetween, and desirably stamped or drawn from thin metal. The outer member comprises a cylindrical wall 23, and an end wall 24 having a series of small apertures 25 circularly arranged near the periphery thereof. The inner member 2| comprises a cylindrical wall 21 and an end wall 28, which is provided with a comparatively large central opening 29, and which has its inner peripheral section around said opening tapering inwardly, to form an annular trough 3|. The inward bending of the end wall 28 around the opening 29 is desirably effected by the same operation which punches said opening. The inner cup member 2| has a snug frictional fit in the interior of the outer cup member 20, so that these members are held together as a unit, and can be assembled by merely pressing them together while in reverse relationship.

The grate unit 18 has a snug frictional fit in the upper end of the hole l5, and is retained therein with the top surface of the wall 24 substantially flush with the top of said hole. In

order to assure retention of the grate unit l8 into the hole 15 against accidental detachment therefrom, the cylindrical wall 23 of the outer cup member 20 has a series of minute outward projections 32, adapted to bite into the periphery of the wood defining said hole. By means of this desired, in a manner hereinafter to be described.

The lower end of the hole [5 is closed by a plug 36, shaped to retain or hold an absorbent element 31. In the specific form shown, this plug 36 has an externally threaded cup section 38, formed with a hollow 40, and terminating at its outer end in a flat screw head 4|. Extending axially upwardly from the threaded section 38 is a cylindrical flange section 42 of reduced diameter, provided with a series of slots 43 extending lengthwise thereof from its outer end to said threaded section.

The lower section 44 of the hole I5 is reduced in diameter, and is threaded to receive the plug 36, and the lower end of said hole is countersunk at 45 to receive the screw head 4| of said p ug.

In assembled position, the upper end of the flange section 42 will extend a short distance above the bottom of the stem bore l6, and said section will form an annular chamber 46 with the hole l5, for the purpose hereinafter made apparent.

The absorbent element 3'! shown in the construction of Figs. 1 to 3 is desirably in the form of a conventional pipe cleaner, except that its length is much shorter (i. e. about three-quarters of an inch), and desirably has one end section 41, reversely bent to form an enlarged base section which will fit snugly into and completely fill the hollow 40 of the plug 36. The other end section 48 extends upwardly through the opening 29 of the grate unit l8, and into the interior thereof into contact or close proximity to the top wall 24 of said unit, and forms an annular space 50 with the periphery of said opening for the smoke draft to pass through.

The absorbent element 37 may be cut from a length of conventional pipe cleaner and bent as shown in Figs. 1-3 to form a thickened base, or may be preformed as shown in Fig. '7, with the absorbent element 37a provided with an enlarged base 5| for snug retention in the plug 36. In either case, the absorbent element 3'! is inserted in the plug 36 before the latter is screwed in position.

The absorbent element 31 is provided with the usual metal wire core 39 common in all conventional pipe cleaners. This wire core 39 conducts the heat away from the hot grate unit I8, and thereby serves to keep the smoke cool and refreshing.

In the smoking operation of my improved pipe, since the draft outlet of the bowl chamber I3 is in the center thereof, the draft induced in said chamber by the suction created at the mouthpiece is uniformly distributed throughout the mass of tobacco, so that said mass will burn evenly. Furthermore, the grate unit i8 serves to regulate the draft through the pipe, so that the tobacco will not burn too fast.

The draft mixture of air and smoke goes downwardly through the mass of burning tobacco in the bowl chamber I3, through the holes of the grate unit l8. and into the interior of the cavity 22. A substantial portion of the vapor products of the burning tobacco carried by this mixture into the cavity 22 will be condensed and trapped therein, and will be collected in the trough 3|. Other portions of the vapor products carried by the draft are absorbed by the absorbent element 31 as they pass through the opening 29 of the grate unit l8, and around said element in their passage to the stem bore I6.

Any saliva which may collect in the stem bore l6 will flow into the annular chamber 46 surrounding the upper section of the plug 36, and through the slots 43 to be absorbed by the absorbent element 31, so that the usual bite" or disagreeable taste in the smokers mouth, usually caused by this saliva, is eliminated.

Since the holes 25 are directly over the trough 3!, the heavier ingredients and by-products such as ashes and unvolatilized tars fall through said holes directly into said trough, and any overflow from said trough 3! will be absorbed by the absorbent element 31.

Since the flow of draft mixture from the bowl chamber 3| to the stem bore I6 is baffled by the various members therebetween as above described, the resultant indirect passage of said mixture serves not only to separate and trap the offensive ingredients entrained therein, but also serves to cool said mixture.

As a result of the present pipe construction, there is obtained a cool, dry, clean, refreshing smoke, from which a substantial part of the undesirable and harmful ingredients have been removed.

When it is desired to clean the pipe, the plug 36 is unscrewed and removed by any kind of a turning element such as a coin or key, and a conventional pipe cleaner 53 passed through the hole l5 from the open end thereof, and into the interior of the grate unit [6 through the opening 29 thereof, as shown in Fig. 6. Since these cleaners 53 are easily bendable, slight endwise pressure thereon will cause the upper end 56 thereof abutting the grate wall 24 to be bent downwardly into the trough 3 l By rotating said cleaner while in this position, the entire inside of the grate unit will be cleaned out. The resultant effective cleaning permits the grate unit l8 to be used indefinitely and without the necessity of replacement. If it is desired to remove the grate unit I8 for any purpose, this can be easily done by inserting a rigid rod through the hole l5 and into pushing contact with said unit.

Since the top of the plug 36 extends only a small distance above the bottom of the stem bore l6, the portion of the hole l5 between the grate unit l8 and said plug can be effectively cleaned simultaneously with the cleaning of said stem bore and without removing said plug 36, by merely passing a pipe cleaner through said bore and into said hole portion around the absorbent member 31.

The absorbent members 31 need only be replaced about once a day, and the cost of this replacement is insignificant, since a single pipe cleaner from which these members are out can be made to last at least a week.

Since the opening 29 of the grate unit I8 is comparatively large, and since the inner peripheral wall section 30 of said unit defining said opening forms a tapering guide, the passage of the upper end of the absorbent member 31 through said opening when the plug 36 is screwed in place is assured. In assembled position of the pipe, this absorbent member 37 will have its ends extending in the plug 36 and the grate unit I8 respectively, so that even if the pipe is violently tapped in reversed position to discharge the bowl contents, said absorbent member will still be retained in this operative position as shown in Fig. 2.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be ade without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pipe comprising a bowl, and a stem connected to said bowl, and having a bore extending lengthwise thereof, and wherein the bowl has a tobacco holding chamber, and a recess extending downwardly therefrom through the full thickness of the bottom wall of said bowl, and afiording draft communication between said chamber and said bore, a hollow grate receptacle retained in said bowl near the upper end of said recess, and having a perforated top wall and a bottom central opening, a removable plug retained in the bottom of said recess, and a conventional pipe cleaner, provided with a metal core element extending lengthwise thereof, said cleaner extending lengthwise in said recess with the lower end retained in said plug, and the upper end extending substantially centrally through the bottom opening of the grate receptacle, and substantially in contacting relationship with the lower surface of the top wall of said grate.

2. A smoking pipe comprising a bowl defining a tobacco chamber, and provided with a bottom wall, said chamber having a substantially cylindrical periphery extending almost to said bottom Wall, a stem connected to said bowl, and having a bore extending lengthwise thereof, said bottom wall having a substantially cylindrical hole of substantially less diameter than that of said cylindrical periphery, said hole extending substantially axially of said bowl across the full thickness of said bottom wall, and affording draft communication between said chamber and said stem bore, a grate unit retained in said hole for supporting the tobacco in said chamber above the draft inlet of said stem bore, and having a perforated wall extending transversely of the axis of said hole, a cup-shaped plug threaded in the lower end of said hole and terminating at its lower end in a fiat screw head, the lower end of said hole being countersunk, whereby said head is substantially flush with the bottom outer surface of the bowl, and a conventional pipe cleaner provided with a metal core element extending lengthwise thereof, said cleaner extending lengthwise in said hole with a portion retained in said plug and a portion substantially in contacting relationship with the lower surface of said grate wall.

3. A smoking pipe comprising a bowl defining a tobacco chamber, and provided with a bottom wall, a stem connected to said bowl, and having a bore extending lengthwise thereof, said bottom wall having a hole of less diameter than the diameter of said chamber extending substantially axially of said bowl across substantially the full thickness of said bottom wall, and affording draft communication between said chamber and said stem bore, a grate unit retained in said hole above the draft inlet of said stem bore, and having a wall extending transversely of the axis of said bowl, removable means closing the lower end of said hole, and a conventional pipe cleaner provided with a metal core element extending lengthwise thereof, said cleaner extending lengthwise in said hole with the lower end retained in said removable means, and the upper end contacting the lower surface of said grate wall.

CHRISTIAN W. CHRISTOPHERSEN. 

